GNSS Signal Processing Methods and Apparatus with Ionospheric Filters

ABSTRACT

Methods and apparatus are provided for processing a set of GNSS signal data derived from signals of a first set of satellites having at least three carriers and signals of a second set of satellites having two carriers. A geometry filter uses a geometry filter combination to obtain an array of geometry-filter ambiguity estimates for the geometry filter combination and associated statistical information. Ionosphere filters use a two-frequency ionospheric combination to obtain an array of ionosphere-filter ambiguity estimates for the two-frequency ionospheric combinations and associated statistical information. Each two-frequency ionospheric combination comprises a geometry-free two-frequency ionospheric residual carrier-phase combination of observations of a first frequency and observations of a second frequency. Auxiliary ionosphere filters use an auxiliary ionospheric combination to obtain an array of auxiliary-ionosphere-filter ambiguity estimates for the auxiliary ionospheric combinations and associated statistical information. Each auxiliary ionospheric combination uses carrier-phase observations of a third frequency and carrier-phase observations of at least one of the first frequency and the second frequency. A combined array of ambiguity estimates is prepared for all carrier phase observations and associated statistical information by combining the arrays of the geometry filter and the ionosphere filters and the auxiliary ionosphere filters.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The content of U.S. Pat. No. 7,432,853, VOLLATH U., “AmbiguityEstimation of GNSS Signals for Three or more Carriers,” is incorporatedherein by this reference.

The content of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/286,672, VOLLATH U.,“Ambiguity Estimation of GNSS Signals for Three or more Carriers,” filedSep. 30, 2008, is incorporated herein by this reference.

The content of U.S. Pat. No. 7,312,747, VOLLATH U. and DOUCET K.,“Multiple-GNSS and FDMA High-Precision Carrier-Phase Based Positioning,”dated Dec. 25, 2007 is incorporated herein by this reference.

The content of Patent Application Publication US 2008/0165055, VOLLATHU. and DOUCET K., “GNSS Signal Processing with Frequency-Dependent BiasModeling,” dated Jul. 10, 2008 is incorporated herein by this reference.

The content of Patent Application Publication US 2008/0165054, VOLLATHU. and DOUCET K., “GNSS Signal Processing with Partial Fixing ofAlgorithms,” dated Jul. 10, 2008 is incorporated herein by thisreference.

The content of International Patent Publication WO 2007/032947, KOLB,P., “Ionosphere Modeling Apparatus and Methods,” dated 22 Mar. 2007 isincorporated herein by this reference.

The content of Patent Application Publication US 2009/0027264, CHEN, X.and VOLLATH U., “GNSS Signal Processing Methods and Apparatus,” datedJan. 29, 2009 is incorporated herein by this reference.

The content of Patent Application Publication US 2008/0165053, LIU, J.and VOLLATH U. and WEST. P. and KLOSE S., “Fast Decimeter-Level GNSSpositioning,” dated Jul. 10, 2008 is incorporated herein by thisreference.

The content of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/321,843, LIU, J. andVOLLATH U. and WEST. P. and KLOSE S., “Fast Decimeter-Level GNSSpositioning,” filed Jan. 26, 2009 is incorporated herein by thisreference.

The content of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/291,888, VOLLATH U.and KLOSE S., “Real-Time Fast Decimeter-Level GNSS positioning,” filedNov. 14, 2008 is incorporated herein by this reference.

The content of International Patent Publication WO 2009/000314, VOLLATHU. and DOUCET K., “Position Tracking Device and Method,” dated 31 Dec.2008 is incorporated herein by this reference.

The content of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/319,623, TALBOT N.and VOLLATH U., “Processing Multi-GNSS Data From Mixed-Type Receiver's,”filed Jan. 8, 2009 is incorporated herein by this reference.

The content of International Patent Application No. PCT/US2008/012045,VOLLATH U., “Generalized Partial Fixing,” with international filing date23 Oct. 2008 is incorporated herein by this reference.

The content of U.S. Provisional Application for Patent 61/189,382,VOLLATH U. and TALBOT N., “Position Estimation Methods and Apparatus,”filed 19 Aug. 2008 is incorporated herein by this reference.

The content of U.S. Provisional Application for Patent 61/208,333,TALBOT N. and VOLLATH U., “GNSS Surveying Methods and Apparatus,” filed22 Feb. 2009 is incorporated herein by this reference, and prioritybenefit thereof is hereby claimed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of Global NavigationSatellite Systems. More particularly, the present invention relates tomethods and apparatus for processing of signals from GNSS satelliteshaving mixed numbers of carrier frequencies.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) include the GlobalPositioning System (GPS), the GLONASS system, the proposed Galileosystem, and the proposed Beidou (Compass) system.

The Global Positioning System completed its original design goals whenit attained full operational capability in 1995. Technical advances andnew demands on the system have since led to a modernization effort. TheGPS modernization project involves new ground stations and newsatellites, with additional navigation signals and improved accuracy andavailability. The first GPS satellite with three-frequency capabilityincluding the new L5 frequency, GPS Block IIF-1, is expected to belaunched in the summer of 2009. The new civilian-use L5 signal isexpected to improve signal structure for enhanced performance, withhigher transmission power and wider bandwidth than the L1 and L2Csignals to better manage interference than with L2. Launch of additionalthree-frequency GPS satellites is planned, with a full three-frequencyconstellation probably available only 5-7 years later.

The European Galileo satellite system will have similar three-frequencycapabilities, but may not provide them all free-to-air. To date only twoGalileo validation element satellites GIOVE-A and GIOVE-B have beenlaunched. Further, the Galileo launch schedule is lagging behind theoriginal plan. The Chinese Compass system is in the early stages oftesting, but may offer three-frequency capabilities when it eventuallybecomes operational. The Russian GLONASS system is also expected to havethree-frequency capabilities at some time in the future.

There will be a transitional period during which a subset of the GNSSsatellite constellation will have three-frequency capabilities, whilethe remainder will continue to broadcast on just two frequencies.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,432,853, VOLLATH U., “Ambiguity Estimation of GNSSSignals for Three or more Carriers” presents a distributed filteringschemes which efficiently deliver ambiguity estimates for two, three ormore carrier signals, and addresses to some of the issues raised withmixed constellations of two and three-or-more frequency satellites.

Improved methods and apparatus for processing GNSS signals are desired,particularly to improve ambiguity estimation of GNSS signals fromsatellites having mixed numbers of carriers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Methods and apparatus in accordance with embodiments of the inventionprovide for improved processing of GNSS signal having mixed numbers ofcarriers. Some embodiments provide for improved ambiguity estimation ofGNSS signals from satellites having a blend of two- and three-or-moresignals, some of which may be observed by GNSS receivers asone-frequency signals.

In accordance with some embodiments of the invention, methods andapparatus are provided for processing a set of GNSS signal data derivedfrom signals of a first set of satellites having at least three carriersand signals of a second set of satellites having two carriers,comprising: applying to the set of GNSS signal data a geometry filterusing a geometry filter combination to obtain an array ofgeometry-filter ambiguity estimates for the geometry filter combinationand associated statistical information, applying to the set of GNSSsignal data a bank of ionosphere filters each using a two-frequencyionospheric combination to obtain an array of ionosphere-filterambiguity estimates for the two-frequency ionospheric combinations andassociated statistical information, wherein each said two-frequencyionospheric combination comprises a geometry-free two-frequencyionospheric residual carrier-phase combination of observations of afirst frequency and observations of a second frequency; applying to theset of GNSS signal data a bank of auxiliary ionosphere filters eachusing an auxiliary ionospheric combination to obtain an array ofauxiliary-ionosphere-filter ambiguity estimates for the auxiliaryionospheric combinations and associated statistical information, whereineach said auxiliary ionospheric combination uses carrier-phaseobservations of a third frequency and carrier-phase observations of atleast one of the first frequency and the second frequency, and preparinga combined array of ambiguity estimates for all carrier phaseobservations and associated statistical information by combining thearrays of the geometry filter and the ionosphere filters and theauxiliary ionosphere filters.

In accordance with some embodiments, the geometry filter combinationcomprises one of a two-frequency geometry carrier-phase combination, asingle-frequency carrier-phase and code combination, and asingle-frequency carrier-phase and GRAPHIC combination. In accordancewith some embodiments, the two-frequency geometry carrier-phasecombination is a minimum-error combination. In accordance with someembodiments, the two-frequency geometry carrier-phase combination is acombination of the GPS L1 carrier frequency and the GPS L2 carrierfrequency. In accordance with some embodiments, the single-frequencycarrier-phase and code combination is a combination of GPS L1carrier-phase and GPS L1 code. In accordance with some embodiments, thesingle-frequency of the single-frequency carrier-phase and GRAPHICcombination is the GPS L1 carrier frequency. In accordance with someembodiments, the bank of ionosphere filters comprises one saidionosphere filter per satellite of the second set of satellites.

In accordance with some embodiments, the auxiliary ionosphericcombination comprises one of: a two-frequency geometry-free ionosphericcarrier-phase combination of the first frequency and the thirdfrequency, and a three-frequency geometry-free ionospheric carrier-phasecombination of the first frequency, the second frequency and the thirdfrequency. In accordance with some embodiments, the auxiliaryionospheric combination is a minimum-error combination. In accordancewith some embodiments, the bank of auxiliary ionosphere filterscomprises one said auxiliary ionosphere filter per satellite of thefirst set of satellites. In accordance with some embodiments, at leastone code filter is applied to the set of GNSS signal data using arespective geometry-free code-carrier combination to obtain an array ofambiguity estimates for the code-carrier combinations and associatedstatistical information. In accordance with some embodiments, thecombined array is prepared by combining the arrays of at least one codefilter with the arrays of the geometry filter and the ionosphere filtersand the auxiliary ionosphere filters to obtain the combined array ofambiguity estimates for all carrier phase observations and associatedstatistical information.

In accordance with some embodiments, each geometry-free code-carriercombination comprises one of: a combination of a first-frequency codeobservation with a first- and second-frequency carrier phase combinationin which ionospheric bias of the first- and second-frequency carrierphase combination is matched to ionospheric bias of the first-frequencycode observation; and a two-frequency narrow-lane code combination witha two-frequency wide-lane carrier-phase combination. In accordance withsome embodiments, at least one code filter is provided per satellite ofthe second set of satellites.

In accordance with some embodiments, at least one bank of additionalfilters is applied to the set of GNSS signal data derived from the firstset of satellites, wherein each additional filter uses a geometry-freeand ionosphere-free carrier-phase combination of at least threefrequencies to obtain an array of ambiguity estimates for thegeometry-free and ionosphere-free carrier-phase combination andassociated statistical information, and wherein preparing a combinedarray comprises one of: combining the arrays of additional filters withthe arrays of the geometry filter and the ionosphere filters and theauxiliary ionosphere filters to obtain the combined array of ambiguityestimates for all carrier phase observations and associated statisticalinformation; and combining the arrays of additional filters with thearrays of at least one code filter and the geometry filter and theionosphere filters and the auxiliary ionosphere filters to obtain thecombined array of ambiguity estimates for all carrier phase observationsand associated statistical information. In accordance with someembodiments, at least one bank of additional filters comprises at leastone additional filter per satellite of the first set of satellites.

In accordance with some embodiments, at least one auxiliary code filteris applied to the set of GNSS signal data using a respectivegeometry-free auxiliary code-carrier combination to obtain an array ofambiguity estimates for the auxiliary code-carrier combination andassociated statistical information, and preparing a combined arraycomprises one of: combining arrays of the additional filters with thearrays of the geometry filter and the ionosphere filters and theauxiliary ionosphere filters to obtain the combined array of ambiguityestimates for all carrier phase observations and associated statisticalinformation, combining the arrays of said at least one auxiliary codefilter with the arrays of the geometry filter and the ionosphere filtersand the auxiliary ionosphere filters and the at least one code filter toobtain the combined array of ambiguity estimates for all carrier phaseobservations and associated statistical information, and combining thearrays of said at least one auxiliary code filter with the arrays of thegeometry filter and the ionosphere filters and the auxiliary ionospherefilters and the at least one code filter and the additional filters toobtain the combined array of ambiguity estimates for all carrier phaseobservations and associated statistical information.

In accordance with some embodiments, each auxiliary code-carriercombination comprises one of: a combination of a third-frequency codeobservation with a first-and third-frequency carrier phase combinationin which ionospheric bias of the first-and third-frequency carrier phasecombination is matched to ionospheric bias of the third-frequency codeobservation, a combination of a second- and third-frequency codecombination with a second- and third-frequency carrier phase combinationin which ionospheric bias of the second- and third-frequency carrierphase combination is matched to ionospheric bias of the second- andthird-frequency code combination, and a combination of a three-frequencynarrow-lane code combination with a three-frequency wide-lane carrierphase combination in which ionospheric bias of the three-frequencywide-lane carrier-phase combination is matched to ionospheric bias ofthe three-frequency code combination. In accordance with someembodiments, one auxiliary code filter is provided per satellite of thefirst set of satellites. In accordance with some embodiments, thesatellites are satellites of the Global Positioning System (GPS),wherein the first set of satellites have GPS carriers L1, L2 and L5 andwherein the second set of satellites have GPS carriers L1 and L2.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects and features of the present invention will bemore readily understood from the embodiments described below withreference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a real-time-kinematic positioningscenario using a GNSS rover capable of receiving GNSS signals withdiffering numbers of carrier frequencies;

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a network positioning scenario using aGNSS rover capable of receiving GNSS signals with differing numbers ofcarrier frequencies;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a typical integrated GNSS receiver system;

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates high-level GNSS signal processing flowin accordance with some embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 5 schematically illustrates a filter architecture in accordancewith some embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 6 schematically illustrates a process flow in accordance with someembodiments of the invention;

FIG. 7 schematically illustrates optional geometry filter architecturesin accordance with some embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 8 schematically illustrates a two-frequency ionosphere filterarchitecture in accordance with some embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 9 schematically illustrates an auxiliary three-or-more-frequencyionosphere filter architecture in accordance with some embodiments ofthe invention;

FIG. 10 schematically illustrates optional auxiliary ionosphere filterarchitectures in accordance with some embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 11 schematically illustrates optional code filter architectures inaccordance with some embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 12 schematically illustrates three-or-more-frequency additional (Q)filter banks in accordance with some embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 13 schematically illustrates optional auxiliary code filterarchitectures in accordance with some embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 14 schematically illustrates a filter architecture for mixedtwo-frequency and three-or-more-frequency GNSS signal processing inaccordance with some embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 15 schematically illustrates a process flow for mixed two-frequencyand three-or-more-frequency GNSS signal processing in accordance withsome embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 16 schematically illustrates a filter architecture for mixedone-frequency, two-frequency and three-or-more-frequency GNSS signalprocessing in accordance with some embodiments of the invention; and

FIG. 17 schematically illustrates a process flow for mixedone-frequency, two-frequency and three-or-more-frequency GNSS signalprocessing in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Overview

Embodiments of the invention relate generally to any GNSS with a mixtureof 2 and 3 or more frequency bands. For GPS, the three frequency bandsare L1, L2 and L5. For GLONASS, the latest M satellites support L1 andL2 signals, however there are plans for GLONASS to support a newfrequency band, denoted L3, located between 1164 and 1215 MHz on theGLONASS-K satellites.

The Galileo signal structure includes L1, E5A, E5B and E6 bands. The E6band is a public regulated signal and therefore is unlikely to beavailable for general use. The E5A and E5B signals can be trackedseparately and therefore Galileo can be used for three-frequencyoperation if desired. It is also possible to combine the E5A and Bsignals to produce carrier phase and code measurements with highaccuracy (excellent multipath suppression). Hence Galileo can be used ineither 2-, or 3-frequency modes.

The Chinese Beidou (Compass) satellite system is already underdevelopment, however details of the final signal structure are notknown. One would expect that the system will provide a minimum of2-frequency signals and hopefully 3 civil bands.

Further details of existing and planned GNSS signal spectra can be foundin S. Lo et. al., 2006, GNSS Album—Images and Spectral Signatures of theNew GNSS Signals, INSIDE GNSS, May/June 2008, pp. 46-56.

Various methods and apparatus are described for processing a mixture oftwo-frequency and three-or-more-frequency GNSS satellite signal data, ora mixture of one-frequency, two-frequency and three-or-more-frequencyGNSS satellite signal data, to produce carrier phase ambiguity estimatesas well as position estimates.

For purposes of illustration it is assumed that the satellite system inuse is GPS and therefore the three frequencies are denoted L1, L2 and L5respectively in the examples described below. The approaches presentedcan be readily translated to the signals of other GNSS satellite systemsand of pseudolites without loss of generality.

Extended Dual-Frequency Scheme

Initially there will be very few GNSS satellites with thethree-frequency (e.g., GPS satellites with L5) capabilities; themajority of GPS satellites will have L1 and L2 carrier phase and codeobservations available. During this stage, the third-frequency can beviewed as providing an extension to dual-frequency processing.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,432,853 describes schemes for multi-frequency carrierambiguity estimation which the inventor collectively terms “FactorizedArray Multi-Carrier Ambiguity Resolution” (or “FAMCAR”). The prior artsection of U.S. Pat. No. 7,432,853 describes a scheme for two-frequencycarrier ambiguity estimation. Implementations of such a two-frequencyscheme may divide the filtering as shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Filter division for dual-frequency processing. Filter ComponentObservation Type Number of filters Geometry Minimum error L1/L2 carrier-1 phase combination Iono Geometry-free (iono-residual) 1 per satellitecarrier-phase Code-carrier Geometry-free, iono-free 1 per satellite(e.g. wide-lane carrier-phase, narrow-lane code; or near-wide- lanecarrier-phase, and L1-code)

Some embodiments in accordance with the invention use observations oftwo frequencies of the three-or-more-frequency satellites' signalstogether with observations of the two frequencies of the two-frequencysatellites' signals in a dual-frequency filtering approach. For example,the L1 and L2 signals of all GPS satellites are used in dual-frequencyprocessing, even for those satellites which also broadcast the L5signal. The third-frequency ambiguity (e.g., the L5 ambiguity) isestimated using auxiliary (three-frequency) ionospheric filter(s),and/or additional (Q) filter(s). In accordance with some embodiments ofthe invention, the additional (Q) filter(s) process a geometry-free,ionosphere-free carrier-phase combination to estimate carrier-phaseambiguities directly. The additional (Q) filters preferably use the“Quintessence” filter structure and “Quintessence” carrier-phasecombinations described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,432,853.

Although there are no known plans to extend GPS or GLONASS to broadcastmore than three-frequencies, GALILEO does support four frequencychannels. The invention can accommodate estimation of carrier phaseambiguities when there are more than three frequencies available. Thefourth frequency band is again treated as an extension tothree-frequency processing. An optional additional ionospheric-filter,optional quintessence filter and optional auxiliary code filter can beadded for each satellite with four frequencies. This allows thefourth-frequency ambiguity to be estimated in the filter combinationstep where the first-three frequency carrier phase ambiguities areestimated.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,432,853 also describes FAMCAR schemes for three-ormore-frequency carrier ambiguity estimation, and for mixed two-frequencyand three-or-more-frequency carrier ambiguity estimation. Ionospherefilters form an important part of the FAMCAR estimation scheme fortwo-or-more frequency ambiguity estimation. On short baselines,ionospheric bias is tightly constrained and this information helps tolink the estimation of the L1, L2 and L5 ambiguities. The additional (Q,or Quintessence) filters do not add the same level of information asthree-frequency ionospheric filters. On long baselines, where theionospheric bias is not as well known, the three-frequency ionosphericfilters still provide useful constraint of the relationship between L1,L2 and L5 ambiguities. The L1, L2 and L5 ionospheric bias constraint isimportant for successful integer carrier phase ambiguity resolution.Because the L1, L2 and L5 carriers are coherently derived from the samefundamental frequency reference at the satellite, there is an intrinsicrelationship between the L1, L2 and L5 ambiguities. This relationshipgives rise to a search space where the coincidence of L1, L2 and L5wavefronts only occurs at particular harmonics of L1, L2 and L5.

In accordance with some embodiments of the invention, an additional (Q,or “Quintessence”) filter is added to model the third and subsequentcarriers for each three-or-more-frequency satellite when available, e.g,the GPS L5 frequency.

In accordance with some embodiments of the invention, an auxiliary codefilter using a code-carrier combination is added to make use of thecode-observation on the third frequency, e.g., the GPS L5 frequency. TheGPS L5 signal structure will provide code observations with enhancedprecision and therefore will improve the overall estimation process whenit is included.

Selection of the observation type for the third-frequency is important.In accordance with some embodiments of the invention, thethree-frequency ionosphere filters use a geometry-free, minimum-error,ionospheric combination. In accordance with some embodiments of theinvention, the additional (Q, or “Quintessence”) filters use threefrequencies to form a geometry-free, iono-free phase combination. Inaccordance with some embodiments of the invention the code-carriercombination of the auxiliary code filters uses the third frequency codeobservation (e.g., GPS L5 code observation) with a three-frequency phasecombination (e.g., a combination of GPS L1, L2 and L5 observations) thathas an ionospheric bias identical to the ionospheric bias of the codeobservation (e.g., a GPS L1/L2/L5 combination with ionospheric biasmatched to the ionospheric bias of the GPS L5 code observation).

Table 2A, Table 2B and Table 2C illustrate alternative filtering schemesusing a third-frequency as an extension to dual-frequency processing, inaccordance with embodiments of the invention.

TABLE 2A Filter division for dual-frequency processing withthree-frequency extension (third-frequency estimation via additional (Q)filter/s and optional third-frequency code-carrier filter/s) FilterComponent Observation Type Number of filters Geometry Minimum errorL1/L2 carrier- 1 phase Iono Geometry-free (iono-residual) 1 persatellite Code (code-carrier) Geometry-free, iono-free (e.g. 1 persatellite wide-lane carrier-phase, narrow- lane code; or near-wide-lanecarrier-phase, and L1-code) Additional (Q) Geometry-free, iono-freecarrier- 1 per (3-freq) (“Quintessence”) phase combination satelliteOptional auxiliary Geometry-free, iono-free code- 1 per (3-freq) code(code-carrier) carrier combination satellite filter for third- frequency

TABLE 2B Filter division for dual-frequency processing withthree-frequency extension (third-frequency estimation viathree-frequency-ionosphere filter/s and optional third-frequencycode-carrier filter/s) Filter Component Observation Type Number offilters Geometry Minimum error L1/L2 carrier- 1 phase Iono Geometry-free(iono-residual) 1 per satellite Code (code-carrier) Geometry-free,iono-free (e.g. 1 per satellite wide-lane carrier-phase, narrow-lanecode; or near- wide-lane carrier-phase, and L1-code) Auxiliary IonoGeometry-free ionospheric 1 per (3-freq) carrier-phase combinationsatellite (3-freq) Optional auxiliary Geometry-free, iono-free code- 1per (3-freq) code (code-carrier) carrier combination satellite filterfor third- frequency

TABLE 2C Filter division for dual-frequency processing withthree-frequency extension (third-frequency estimation via additional (Q)filter/s, 3-frequency-iono filter/s, and optional third-frequencycode-carrier filter/s) Filter Component Observation Type Number offilters Geometry Minimum error L1/L2 carrier- 1 phase Iono Geometry-free(iono-residual) 1 per satellite Code (code-carrier) Geometry-free,iono-free (e.g. 1 per satellite wide-lane carrier-phase, narrow-lanecode; or near- wide-lane carrier-phase, and L1-code) Additional (Q)Geometry-free, iono-free carrier- 1 per (3-freq) (“Quintessence”) phasecombination satellite Auxiliary Iono Geometry-free ionospheric 1 per(3-freq) carrier-phase combination satellite (3-freq) Optional auxiliaryGeometry-free, iono-free code- 1 per (3-freq) code (code-carrier)carrier combination satellite filter for third- frequency

Seamless One-Two-Three-Frequency Processing

Traditionally the GPS L1 C/A-code band has been treated as the primarysignal for civilian use, particularly given that tracking the GPS L2signal without knowledge of the Y-code leads to less L2 signalavailability than L1. The receiver has a more difficult time maintainingphase lock on the L2 signal than on the L1 signal, especially underdifficult conditions of weak signal, multipath, etc., because the Y-codemodulated on the L2 signal is not known to the receiver, while the C/Acode modulated on the L1 signal is known to the receiver. When adual-frequency receiver loses lock on one signal (e.g., GPS L2) of adual-frequency satellite, that satellite's data drops out of theminimum-error dual-frequency (e.g., GPS L1/L2) geometry filter process.The dual-frequency filter division scheme described with reference toTable 1 processes only the signals of those satellites for whichtwo-frequency observations are available. The dual-frequency filterdivision schemes with three-frequency extension described with referenceto Table 2A, Table 2B and Table 2C process the signals of all satellitesfor which two-frequency observations are available as in thedual-frequency filter division scheme of Table 1 and also processcombinations using the third frequency.

Some embodiments in accordance with the invention provide for a filterdivision scheme which accommodates single-, dual- and triple-frequencyobservations, as summarized in Table 3.

TABLE 3 Filter division for single-, dual- and triple-frequencyprocessing Number of bands Filter Component Observation Type Number offilters available Geometry L1-only carrier- 1 1 phase plus L1- only codeIono Geometry-free: 1 per satellite 2 iono-residual carrier-phaseOptional code Geometry-free, 1 per (2-freq) satellite (code-carrier)iono-free code- filter for carrier second frequency combinationAdditional (Q) Geometry-free, 1 per (3-freq) satellite 3(“Quintessence”) iono-free carrier- phase combination Auxiliary IonoGeometry-free 1 per (3-freq) satellite ionospheric carrier-phasecombination (3-freq) Optional auxiliary Geometry-free, 1 per (3-freq)satellite code iono-free code- (code-carrier) carrier filter for third-combination frequency

Some embodiments of the invention in accordance with Table 3 update thegeometry filter using the combination of L1-only carrier-phaseobservations (e.g., in meters) and L1-only code observations. Thisobservation type is sometimes called the GRAPHIC combination; it is freefrom ionospheric bias. For more on the GRAPHIC combination, see B.REMONDI, FINAL REPORT: INVESTIGATION OF GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM SINGLEFREQUENCY HARDWARE FOR THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, EPAReference DW13936132-01-0, April 1994; T. YUNCK, Orbit Determination, inGLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM: THEORY AND APPLICATIONS VOLUME 2, Eds. B. W.Parkinson, J. J. Spilker Jr., PROGRESS IN ASTRONAUTICS AND AERONAUTICSVOLUME 164, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc.,Washington, D.C., U.S.A., 1996, pp. 559-592, at pp. 581-583; A. Simsky,Standalone real-time navigation algorithm for single-frequencyionosphere-free positioning based on dynamic ambiguities (DARTS-SF), andO. MONTENBRUCK et al., Phoenix-XNS—A Miniature Real-Time NavigationSystem for LEO Satellites, NAVITEC 2006, 11-13 Dec. 2006, 8 pp.

The derivation of the GRAPHIC combination begins with the L1 phase andcode observations given as follows:

$\begin{matrix}{{\lambda_{L\; 1}\varphi_{L\; 1}} = {\rho - \frac{I}{f_{L\; 1}^{2}} + \beta_{L\; 1} + \lambda_{L\; 1} + n_{L\; 1}}} & (1) \\{r_{L\; 1} = {\rho + \frac{I}{f_{L\; 1}^{2}} + b_{L\; 1}}} & (2)\end{matrix}$

Where:

φ_(L1) first-frequency (e.g., L1) carrier phase observation (cycles),

ρ user-satellite geometric range term (metres),

λ_(L1) first-frequency (e.g., L1) wavelength (metres)

I ionospheric bias for the L1 band,

f_(L1) first-frequency (e.g., L1) frequency (hz)

β_(L1) first-frequency (e.g., L1) carrier phase multipath (metres),

n_(L1) first-frequency (e.g., L1) carrier phase ambiguity (cycles),

r_(L1) first-frequency (e.g., L1) pseudorange observation (metres)

b_(L1) first-frequency (e.g., L1) code multipath

Equation (2) can be used to derive an expression for the ionosphericbias term:

$\begin{matrix}{\frac{I}{f_{L\; 1}^{2}} = {r_{L\; 1} - \rho - b_{L\; 1}}} & (3)\end{matrix}$

Inserting the result from (3) into (1):

λ_(L1)φ_(L1)=ρ−(r _(L1) −ρ−b _(L1))+β_(L1)+λ_(L1) n _(L1)   (4)

Rearranging (4) leads to the desired L1 code/phase combination:

$\begin{matrix}{\frac{{\lambda_{L\; 1}\varphi_{L\; 1}} + r_{L\; 1}}{2} = {\rho + \frac{b_{L\; 1} + \beta_{L\; 1}}{2} + \frac{\lambda_{L\; 1}n_{L\; 1}}{2}}} & (5)\end{matrix}$

The second term on the right-hand side of (5) corresponds to the codeplus phase multipath. The geometry filter includes position and clockterms, plus a multipath and phase ambiguity state for each satelliteused. Even without the availability of dual-frequency data, the resultsfrom the single-frequency (e.g., L1-only) geometry filter provideconvergent estimates of single-frequency (e.g., L1-only) ambiguities.

When dual-frequency carrier phase observations are available for aparticular satellite, ionosphere filters are used in accordance withsome embodiments of the invention to model the single-differenceionospheric bias and to estimate a carrier phase ambiguity term. Thecorresponding observation model is given by:

$\begin{matrix}{{{\lambda_{L\; 1}\varphi_{L\; 1}} - {\lambda_{L\; 2}\varphi_{L\; 2}}} = {\left( {\frac{I}{f_{L\; 2}^{2}} - \frac{I}{f_{L\; 1}^{2}}} \right) + \left( {{\lambda_{L\; 1}n_{L\; 1}} - {\lambda_{L\; 2}n_{L\; 2}}} \right)}} & (6)\end{matrix}$

Where the notation above applies and further:

φ_(L2) second-frequency (e.g., L2) carrier phase observation (cycles),

λ_(L2) second-frequency (e.g., L2) wavelength (metres)

f_(L2) second-frequency (e.g., L2) frequency (hz)

For the dual-frequency case, combining the arrays of factorized (FAMCAR)filters produces first-frequency (e.g., L1) ambiguities for allsatellites plus first- and second-frequency (e.g., L1 and L2)ambiguities for those satellites for which dual-frequency observablesare available. In accordance with some embodiments of the invention,code observations from the second frequency (e.g., L2) are optionallyprocessed when available, in the manner described for the firstfrequency. The second-frequency (e.g., L2) code observations can befiltered with a dual-frequency (e.g., L1/L2) carrier-phase, combinationwhich has an ionospheric bias equal to the ionospheric bias of thesecond-frequency (e.g., L2-code) observation.

For those satellites which are tracked with three frequencies,carrier-phase observation data from the third frequency (e.g., L5), areused in an additional (Q) (“Quintessence”) filter in accordance withsome embodiments of the invention. An additional code (code-carrier)filter is used to improve the estimation of the ambiguities inaccordance with some embodiments of the invention. Further details aboutthe additional (Q) (“Quintessence”) filters are found in U.S. Pat. No.7,432,853.

Suboptimal Factorization

An underlying principle of the FAMCAR scheme described in U.S. Pat. No.7,432,853 is that the results from the various filters are orthogonal.That is, the geometry filter, ionosphere filter/s, code-carrier filter/sand “Quintessence” filters are assumed to produce results that aremutually independent.

In contrast, some embodiments in accordance with the present inventionemploy factorization schemes that have desirable characteristics yetrelax the orthogonality principle. For example, for the dual-frequencyprocessing case, the geometry filter described in U.S. Pat. No.7,432,853 processes dual-frequency (e.g., L1/L2) minimum-error-phasedata; however alternatives in accordance with some embodiments of thepresent invention process single-frequency (e.g., L1-only) data in thegeometry filter. On short baselines, the dual-frequency (e.g., L1/L2)minimum-error carrier-phase combination essentially becomessingle-frequency (e.g., L1-only) carrier-phase; hence if the geometryfilter strictly processes single-frequency (e.g., L1-only) data then itwill provide very close to optimal results on short baselines. On longbaselines, the dual-frequency (e.g., L1/L2) minimum error phasecombination approaches the iono-free carrier-phase combination andtherefore the results from a single-frequency (e.g., L1-only) geometryfilter will become correlated with the results from the iono-filters.Empirical tests show that acceptable results can still be obtained ifthe correlation between the L1-only geometry-filter output and the L1/L2iono-filter output is ignored.

An alternative to using an L1-only Geometry filter configuration is topermanently run the Geometry-filter in an iono-free mode. Thistechnique, though not optimal, has been shown to produce acceptableperformance. Normally the minimum error carrier-phase combination needsto be adjusted for the prevailing baseline length (and assumed changesin iono bias), each adjustment translates into a geometry-filter reset.Fixed L1-only or iono-free geometry-filter processing negates the resetproblem and simplifies the factorized array processing. Furthermore, ifL1-only phase is used, there is no requirement to have L2 data availablefor every satellite used to update the geometry-filter, and this confersimproved solution availability.

Table 4 gives an example of a filter scheme in accordance with anembodiment of the invention.

TABLE 4 Example of filter scheme Filter Type 2-Freq 3-Freq NotesGeometry minimum-error — single-geometry carrier-phase filter used forall combination satellites Iono ionospheric — bank of filters withdual-frequency 1 filter per satellite carrier-phase combination Code(code- L1-code with — bank of filters with carrier) L1/L2 phase 1 filterper satellite combination having iono bias matched to L1-code AuxiliaryIono — minimum-error 3- bank of filters with frequency 1 filter for each3- ionospheric frequency satellite carrier-phase combination Additional(Q) — geometry-free, bank of filters with “Quintessence” iono-free 1filter for each 3- 3-frequency frequency satellite carrier-phasecombination Auxiliary Code — L5-code with bank of filters with(code-carrier) L1/L5 1 filter for each 3- carrier-phase frequencysatellite combination having iono bias matched to L5 code

Table 5 summarizes data combinations suitable for mixed one-,two-three-frequency filtering of GPS signals in accordance with someembodiments of the invention. Comparable combinations are used for otherGNSS.

TABLE 5 Filter separation for 1-, 2-, 3-frequency processing Filter Type1-Freq 2-Freq 3-Freq Notes Geometry L1-only — — single geometrycarrier-phase filter used for all OR satellites L1 carrier- phase/L1code OR L1-GRAPHIC (carrier- phase/code) combination Iono ionosphericdual- — bank of filters frequency carrier- with 1 filter per phasecombination 2-freq satellite Code (code- L1-code with L1/L2 — bank offilters carrier) phase combination with 1 filter per having iono bias2-freq satellite matched to L1-code OR L1/L2 narrow-lane- code & L1/L2wide- lane carrier-phase combination Auxiliary Iono — — minimum-error 3-bank of filters frequency with 1 filter for ionospheric carrier- each 3-phase combination frequency satellite Additional (Q) — — geometry-free,iono- bank of filters “Quintessence” free 3-frequency with 1 filter forcarrier-phase each 3- combination frequency satellite Auxiliary Code — —L5-code with L1/L5 bank of filters (code-carrier) phase combination with1 filter for with matched iono each 3- bias to L5 code frequency ORsatellite L1/L2/L5 narrow- lane code with L1/L2/L5 phase combinationwith matched iono OR L2/L5-code with iono-matched L2/L5 carrier-phase

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a real-time-kinematic positioningscenario 100 using a GNSS rover 105 capable of receiving differingnumbers of GNSS signals from GNSS satellites in view. For example, rover105 receives only a single-frequency signal (e.g., GPS L1) fromsatellites 110 and 115, possibly due to weak signal or multipath orother factors, receives dual-frequency signals (e.g., GPS L1 and L2)from satellites 120 and 125, and receives three-or-more-frequencysignals (e.g., GPS L1 and L2 and L5) from satellites 130 and 135.Similarly, GNSS base station 140 receives signals from some or all ofthe same satellites, and may receive more or fewer frequencies from eachsatellite.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a network positioning scenario 200using a GNSS rover capable of receiving GNSS signals with differingnumbers of carrier frequencies. For example, rover 205 receives only asingle-frequency signal (e.g., GPS L1) from satellites 210 and 215,possibly due to weak signal or multipath or other factors, receivesdual-frequency signals (e.g., GPS L1 and L2) from satellites 220 and225, and receives three-or-more-frequency signals (e.g., GPS L1 and L2and L5) from satellites 230 and 235. Similarly, GNSS reference stations240, 245 (and possibly others not shown) receives signals from some orall of the same satellites, and may receive more or fewer frequenciesfrom each satellite. A network processor 250 collects the data from thereference receivers, prepares correction data and transmits thecorrection data to rover 205 via a communications link 255.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a typical integrated GNSS receiver system300 with GNSS antenna 305 and communications antenna 310. Receiversystem 300 can serve as a rover or base station or reference station.Receiver system 300 includes “a GNSS receiver 315, a computer system 320and one or more communications links 325. Computer system 320 includesone or more processors 330, one or more data storage elements 335,program code 340 for controlling the processor(s) 330, and userinput/output devices 345 which may include one or more output devices350 such as a display or speaker or printer and one or more devices 355for receiving user input such as a keyboard or touch pad or mouse ormicrophone.

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates high-level GNSS signal processing flow400 in accordance with some embodiments of the invention. A GNSS signaldata set 405 is a set of observations obtained by receiving signals ofmultiple satellites at a receiver. GNSS signal data set 405 is suppliedto an element 410 which prepares the data for filtering. The resultingprepared data 415 includes three-or-more-frequency signal data 420,two-frequency signal data 425 and optional single-frequency signal data430.

In accordance with some embodiments, the prepare data component 410involves some or all of the following steps: (1) storage (buffering) ofrover epoch GNSS observation data, (2) time-synchronization of referenceand rover epoch GNSS observation data once the reference data isreceived, (3) application of antenna correction models to base and roverobservations, (4) formation of single- (between base/rover) differencepseudorange and carrier phase observations for each GNSS frequency band,(5) application of tropospheric correction models to single-differenceobservations, (6) application of ionospheric correction models tosingle-difference observations, (7) form linear combination(s) ofcarrier phase and pseudorange observations for each satellite—e.g. formsingle-difference iono-free carrier phase combination, single-differencenarrow-lane pseudo-range combination, etc. The linear combinationspossess certain important characteristics that are exploited during theposition calculations. For example iono-free combinations areessentially free of ionospheric bias. Single-differencing of GNSSobservations helps to reduce the impact of satellite dependent errorsources. Satellite clock errors are essentially removed bysingle-difference formation between base and rover receiver data whichwas collected at the same time instant (epoch).

Prepared GNSS signal data 415 is supplied to an element 435 whichapplies a set of factorized filters 500 (FIG. 5) to the prepared data415. Features and variations of the factorized filters 500 are describedbelow. Arrays of data produced by applying filters 500 to prepared data415 are combined in an element 440 to form a combined array of ambiguityestimates for all carrier-phase observations and associated statisticalinformation for all transmitters (e.g. for all observed GNSS satellitesand/or pseudolites). Array 445 is supplied to an optionposition-computation element 450 which computes a receiver position 455for the time of the observations. Position 455 can be computed as afloat solution, for example, or other type of position solution such asfixed, a combination of float and fixed, or determined using a weightedaverage of ambiguities as described in U.S. Provisional Application forPatent 61/189,382 or using techniques described in S. VERHAGEN, The GNSSinteger ambiguities: estimation and validation, Delft University ofTechnology, 2004, ISBN 90-804147-4-3, also published in PUBLICATIONS ONGEODESY 58, Delft, 2005, ISBN-13: 978 90 6132 290 0, ISBN-10: 90 6132290, incorporated herein by this reference.

FIG. 5 schematically illustrates a filter architecture in accordancewith some embodiments of the invention, suitable for carrying out filterprocesses in accordance with some embodiments of the invention. Aprepared GNSS signal data set, such as prepared GNSS signal data set415, is supplied to factorized filters 500 which contain elements forcarrying out sub-processes. Optional element 505 computes optionalcoefficients 510 from the prepared data. The prepared data set and theoptional coefficients 510 are supplied to sub-filters which include: asingle geometry filter 512 and a geometry-free ionosphere filter bank520 having for example one filter per observed two-frequency satellite.Some embodiments in accordance with the invention include an auxililiarygeometry-free ionosphere filter bank 530 having for example one filterper observed three-frequency satellite. Some embodiments in accordancewith the invention include one or more optional code (code-carrier)filters 540 such as one such filter per observed two-frequencysatellite; and/or one or more optional additional (Q) (“Quintessence”)filter banks 550 in which each filter bank has for example one filterper observed three-frequency satellite; and/or one or more optionalauxiliary code filter banks 560 in which each filter bank has one filterper observed three-frequency satellite.

Geometry filter 512 produces an array of geometry-filter ambiguityestimates with associated statistical information 515. Geometry-freeionosphere filter bank 520 produces an array of iono-filter ambiguityestimates with associated statistical information 525. Auxililiarygeometry-free ionosphere filter bank 530, if provided, produces an arrayof auxiliary-iono-filter ambiguity estimates with associated statisticalinformation 535. Optional code filter/s 540, if provided, produce anarray of optional code-filter ambiguity estimates with associatedstatistical information 545. Optional additional (Q) (”Quintessence“)filters 550, if provided, produce an array of optional additional- (Q)filter ambiguity estimates with associated statistical information 555.Optional auxiliary code filter/s 560, if provided, produce an array ofoptional auxiliary-code-filter ambiguity estimates with associatedstatistical information 565. The arrays produced by the sub-filters aresupplied to a combiner 570 which provides combined array of ambiguityestimates for all observations with associated statistical information445. Array 445 is optionally supplied to a position-determining element580 to carry out a process as at 450 to compute a position 455.

The number of additional (Q) (”Quintessence“) filter banks 550 is forexample two less than the number of observed satellite carrierfrequencies. For example, a single bank of additional (Q) filters isprovided for satellites having three observed carrier frequencies, withup to one filter per three-frequency satellite, and two banks of (Q)filters are provided for satellites having four observed carrierfrequencies, each bank having up to one filter per four-frequencysatellite.

A number of banks of code filter/s 540 can be provided up to the numberof observed carrier frequencies. For example, one or two banks of codefilter/s 540 can be provided for satellites having two observed carrierfrequencies, each bank having up to one filter per two-frequencysatellite. A number of banks of auxiliary code filter/s 560 can beprovided up to the number of observed carrier frequencies. For example,one or two or three banks of auxiliary code filter/s 560 can be providedfor satellites having three observed carrier frequencies, each bankhaving up to one filter per three-frequency satellite. Similarly, anynumber from one to four code filter banks is provided for a satelliteshaving four carrier frequencies, each bank having up to one filter perfour-frequency satellite.

FIG. 6 schematically illustrates a process flow in accordance with someembodiments of the invention. At 605 coefficients 510 are optionallycomputed from prepared signal data 415. At 610 a geometry filter such asgeometry filter 512 is applied to the prepared signal data 415 toproduce the array of geometry-filter ambiguity estimates with associatedstatistical information 515. At 620 one or more geometry-free ionofilter bank/s 620 such as geometry-free ionosphere filter bank/s 520 areapplied to the prepared signal data 425 of the two-frequency satelliteobservations to produce the array of iono-filter ambiguity estimateswith associated statistical information 525. At 630 one or more banks ofauxiliary geometry-free ionosphere filter/s, if provided, such asauxiliary ionosphere filter banks 530 are applied to the three-frequencysatellite observations to produce the array of auxiliary-iono-filterambiguity estimates with associated statistical information 535. At 640,the optional code filter/s 540, if provided, are applied to thetwo-frequency satellite observations to produce the array of optionalcode-filter ambiguity estimates with associated statistical information545. At 650, the optional additional (Q) (“Quintessence”) filters 550,if provided, are applied to the three-or-more-frequency satelliteobservations to produce the array of optional additional- (Q) filterambiguity estimates with associated statistical information 555. At 660the optional auxiliary code filter/s 560, if provided, are applied tothe three-or-more-frequency satellite observations to produce the arrayof optional auxiliary-code-filter ambiguity estimates with associatedstatistical information 565. At 670 the arrays produced by thesub-filters are supplied to combiner 570 to provide the combined arrayof ambiguity estimates for all observations with associated statisticalinformation 445. At 675 the combined array 445 is optionally supplied toposition-determining element 675 to carry compute the position 455.

FIG. 7 schematically illustrates alternate geometry filter architecturesin accordance with some embodiments of the invention. In one embodiment,geometry filter 512 produces array 515 by applying to the preparedthree-or-more-frequency data 420 and two-frequency data 425 atwo-frequency geometry carrier-phase combination 705 (e.g.,minimum-error GPS L1/L2). In one embodiment, geometry filter 512produces array 515 by applying to the prepared three-or-more-frequencydata 420 and two-frequency data 425 and one-frequency data 430 asingle-frequency carrier-phase and code combination (e.g., GPS L1) 710.In one embodiment, geometry filter 512 produces array 515 by applying tothe prepared three-or-more-frequency data 420 and two-frequency data 425and one-frequency data 430 a single-frequency carrier-phase and GRAPHICcombination 715 (e.g., GPS L1).

FIG. 8 schematically illustrates a two-frequency ionosphere filterarchitecture in accordance with some embodiments of the invention. Inone embodiment, ionosphere filter bank 520 produces array 525 byapplying to the prepared three-or-more-frequency data 420 andtwo-frequency data 425 of the data for each satellite havingtwo-or-more-frequency observations a respective ionosphere filter 805,810, . . . 815. Ionosphere filters 805, 810, . . . 815 in accordancewith some embodiments use a two-frequency geometry-free ionosphericcarrier-phase combination (e.g., GPS L1/L2).

FIG. 9 schematically illustrates an auxiliary three-or-more-frequencyionosphere filter architecture in accordance with some embodiments ofthe invention. In one embodiment, auxiliary ionosphere filter bank 530produces array 535 by applying to the prepared data 420 for eachsatellite having three-or-more-frequency observations a respectiveauxiliary ionosphere filter 905, 910, . . . 915.

FIG. 10 schematically illustrates optional auxiliary ionosphere filterarchitectures in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.Auxiliary ionosphere filters 905, 910, . . . 915 in accordance with someembodiments use a two-frequency geometry-free ionospheric carrier-phasecombination 1005 (e.g., GPS L1/L5) employing different frequencies thanthe ionosphere filters of iono filter bank 520 (which may use e.g. GPSL1//L2). Auxiliary ionosphere filters 905, 910, . . . 915 in accordancewith some embodiments use a two-frequency geometry-free ionosphericcarrier-phase combination 1010 (e.g. GPS L2/L5) employing differentfrequencies than the ionosphere filters of iono filter bank 520.Auxiliary ionosphere filters 905, 910, . . . 915 in accordance with someembodiments use a minimum-error three-or-more-frequency geometry-freeionospheric carrier-phase combination 1015 (e.g., GPS L1/L2/L5).

FIG. 11 schematically illustrates optional code filter architectures inaccordance with some embodiments of the invention. In one embodiment,optional code filter bank 540 produces array 545 by applying to theprepared data 420, 425 of each satellite having two-or-more-frequencyobservations a respective code (code-carrier) filter 540. Optional codefilter/s 540 in accordance with some embodiments use a combination 1105of geometry-free first-frequency code observations andfirst-and-second-frequency carrier-phase combination observations havingmatched ionospheric bias (e.g., GPS L1 code+GPS L1/L2 carrier-phase withmatched iono bias). Optional code filter/s 540 in accordance with someembodiments use a combination 1110 of geometry-free dual-frequencynarrow-lane combinations with dual-frequency wide-lane combinations(e.g., GPS L1/L2 narrow-lane+GPS L1/L2 wide-lane).

FIG. 12 schematically illustrates three-or-more-frequency additional (Q)filter banks in accordance with some embodiments of the invention. Inone embodiment, additional (Q) filter bank/s 550 produce array 555 byapplying to the prepared three-or-more-frequency data 420 for eachsatellite having three-or-more-frequency observations a respectiveadditional (Q) filter 1205, 1210, . . . 1215. Additional (Q) filters1205, 1210, . . . 1215 in accordance with some embodiments use ageometry-free, ionosphere-free three-frequency carrier-phase combination(e.g., GPS L1/L2/L5) as in the “Quintessence” filters of U.S. Pat. No.7,432,853.

FIG. 13 schematically illustrates optional auxiliary code filterarchitectures in accordance with some embodiments of the invention. Inone embodiment, auxiliary code filter bank 560 produces array 565 byapplying to the prepared data 420 of each satellite havingthree-or-more-frequency observations a respective auxiliary code filter.Optional auxiliary code filter/s 560 in accordance with some embodimentsuse a combination 1305 of third-frequency code observations (e.g., GPSL5) with first-frequency and third-frequency (e.g., GPS L1 & L5)carrier-phase combinations having ionospheric bias matched to thethird-frequency code observations. Optional auxiliary code filter/s 560in accordance with some embodiments use a combination 1310 ofsecond-frequency and third-frequency code observations (e.g., GPS L2 &L5) with second-frequency and third-frequency (e.g., GPS L2 & L5)carrier-phase combinations having ionospheric bias matched to thesecond-frequency and third-frequency code observations. Optionalauxiliary code filter/s 560 in accordance with some embodiments use acombination 1315 of three-frequency narrow-lane code observations (e.g.,GPS L1/L2/L5 narrow-lane code) with three-frequency wide-lanecarrier-phase observations (e.g., GPS L1/L2/L5 wide-lane carrier)carrier-phase combinations having ionospheric bias matched to thethree-frequency code observations.

FIG. 14 schematically illustrates a filter architecture 1400 for mixedtwo-frequency and three-or-more-frequency GNSS signal processing inaccordance with some embodiments of the invention. In this embodiment,dual-frequency filters 1405 include a geometry filter 1410, code filterbank/s 1415 and ionosphere filter banks/ 1420, and triple-frequencyfilters 1425 include auxiliary ionosphere filter bank/s 1430, optionaladditional (Q) (“Quintessence”) filter bank/s 1435 and optionalauxiliary code filter bank/s 1440. In this embodiment, geometry filter1410 uses a minimum-error dual-frequency (e.g., GPS L1/L2) combination,code filter bank/s 1415 have one filter per satellite each using adual-frequency (e.g., GPS L1/L2) code-carrier combination, andionosphere filter bank/s 1420 have one filter per satellite each using adual-frequency (e.g., GPS L1/L2) geometry-free carrier-phasecombination, auxiliary ionosphere filter bank/s 1430 have one filter perthree-frequency satellite each using a three-frequency (e.g., GPSL1/L2/L5) ionospheric carrier-phase combination or a two-frequencyionospheric phase combination using a third frequency (e.g., GPS L1/L5or GPS L2/L5), optional additional (Q) (“Quintessence”) filter bank/s1435 have one filter per three-frequency satellite each using athree-frequency (e.g., GPS L1/L2/L5) geometry-free and ionosphere-freecarrier-phase combination, and optional auxiliary code filter bank/s1440 have one filter per three-frequency satellite each using acode-carrier combination which includes the code from the thirdfrequency (e.g., GPS L5 code+GPS L1 /L5 carrier phase).

FIG. 15 schematically illustrates a process flow for mixed two-frequencyand three-or-more-frequency GNSS signal processing in accordance withsome embodiments of the invention. In this embodiment, at 1505 prepareddata set 415 is optionally used to compute two-frequency coefficients1510. At 1515 the dual-frequency data of prepared data set 415 andoptional coefficients 1510 are applied to a two-frequency geometryfilter such as filter 1410 to produce an array of ambiguity estimatesfor the geometry carrier-phase combination and associated statistics1520; at 1525 the dual-frequency data of prepared data set 415 andoptional coefficients 1510 are applied to a two-frequency ionospherefilter bank such as ionosphere-filter bank 1420 to produce an array ofambiguity estimates for the ionospheric carrier-phase combination andassociated statistics 1530; and at 1535 the dual-frequency data ofprepared data set 415 and optional coefficients 1510 are applied to atwo-frequency code filter bank such as code-filter bank 1415 to producean array of ambiguity estimates for the code+carrier-phase combinationand associated statistics 1540.

Also in this embodiment, at 1545 prepared data set 415 is optionallyused to compute three-frequency coefficients 1550. At 1555 thethree-frequency data of prepared data set 415 and optional coefficients1550 are applied to a three-frequency auxiliary ionosphere filter banksuch as auxiliary ionosphere-filter bank 1430 to produce an array ofambiguity estimates using an ionospheric carrier-phase combination usingthe third frequency and associated statistics 1560; at 1565 thethree-frequency data of prepared data set 415 and optional coefficients1550 are applied to a three-frequency additional (Q) (“Quintessence”)filter bank such as additional (Q) filter bank 1435 to produce an arrayof ambiguity estimates for the geometry-free and iono-free carrier-phase“Quintessence” combination and associated statistics 1570; and at 1575the three-frequency data of prepared data set 415 and optionalcoefficients 1550 are applied to a three-frequency auxiliary code filterbank such as auxiliary-code-filter bank 1440 to produce an array ofambiguity estimates for a code+carrier-phase combination using thethird-frequency and associated statistics 1580. At 1585 the results ofarrays 1520, 1530, 1540, 1560, 1570 and 1580 are combined to produce thecombined array of ambiguity estimates for all carrier-phase observationsand associated statistical information 445.

FIG. 16 schematically illustrates a filter architecture for mixedone-frequency, two-frequency and three-or-more-frequency GNSS signalprocessing in accordance with some embodiments of the invention. In thisembodiment, the single-frequency processing 1605 is performed with asingle-frequency geometry filter 1610, dual-frequency filters 1615include code filter bank/s 1620 and ionosphere filter bank/s 1625, andtriple-frequency filters 1630 include auxiliary ionosphere filter bank/s1635, optional additional (Q) (“Quintessence”) filter bank/s 1640 andoptional auxiliary code filter banks 1645. In this embodiment, geometryfilter 1610 uses a single-frequency combination (e.g., GPS L1-onlycarrier-phase or GPS L1 carrier-phase & L1 code or GPS L1-GRAPHICcombination), code filter bank/s 1620 have one filter per satellite eachusing a dual-frequency (e.g., GPS L1/L2) code-carrier combination, andionosphere filter bank/s 1625 have one filter per satellite each using adual-frequency (e.g., GPS L1/L2) geometry-free carrier-phasecombination, auxiliary ionosphere filter bank/s 1635 have one filter perthree-frequency satellite each using a three-frequency (e.g., GPSL1/L2/L5) ionospheric carrier-phase combination or a two-frequencyionospheric phase combination using a third frequency (e.g., GPS L1/L5or GPS L2/L5), optional additional (Q) (“Quintessence”) filter banks1640 have one filter per three-frequency satellite each using athree-frequency (e.g., GPS L1/L2/L5) geometry-free and ionosphere-freecarrier-phase combination, and optional auxiliary code filter bank/s1645 have one filter per three-frequency satellite each using acode-carrier combination which includes the code from the thirdfrequency (e.g., GPS L5 code+GPS L1/L5 carrier phase).

FIG. 17 schematically illustrates a process flow for mixedone-frequency, two-frequency and three-or-more-frequency GNSS signalprocessing in accordance with some embodiments of the invention. In thisembodiment, at 1705 prepared data set 415 is optionally used to computetwo-frequency coefficients 1710. At 1715 the single-frequency data ofprepared data set 415 are applied to a single-frequency geometry filtersuch as filter 1610 to produce an array of ambiguity estimates for thegeometry carrier-phase combination and associated statistics 1720; at1725 the dual-frequency data of prepared data set 415 and optionalcoefficients 1710 are applied to a two-frequency ionosphere filter banksuch as ionosphere-filter bank 1625 to produce an array of ambiguityestimates for the ionospheric carrier-phase combination and associatedstatistics 1730; and at 1735 the dual-frequency data of prepared dataset 415 and optional coefficients 1710 are applied to a two-frequencycode filter bank such as code-filter bank 1620 to produce an array ofambiguity estimates for the code+carrier-phase combination andassociated statistics 1740.

Also in this embodiment, at 1745 prepared data set 415 is optionallyused to compute three-frequency coefficients 1750. At 1755 thethree-frequency data of prepared data set 415 and optional coefficients1750 are applied to a three-frequency auxiliary ionosphere filter banksuch as auxiliary ionosphere-filter bank 1635 to produce an array ofambiguity estimates using an ionospheric carrier-phase combination usingthe third frequency and associated statistics 1760; at 1765 thethree-frequency data of prepared data set 415 and optional coefficients1750 are applied to a three-frequency additional (Q) (“Quintessence”)filter bank such as additional (Q) filter bank 1640 to produce an arrayof ambiguity estimates for the geometry-free and iono-free carrier-phase“Quintessence” combination and associated statistics 1770; and at 1775the three-frequency data of prepared data set 415 and optionalcoefficients 1750 are applied to a three-frequency auxiliary code filterbank such as auxiliary-code-filter bank 1645 to produce an array ofambiguity estimates for a code+carrier-phase combination using thethird-frequency and associated statistics 1780. At 1785 the results ofarrays 1720, 1730, 1740, 1760, 1770 and 1780 are combined to produce thecombined array of ambiguity estimates for all carrier-phase observationsand associated statistical information 445.

The Kalman filter processing power requirement increases quadraticallywith number of states, linearly with number of observations.

Some embodiments in accordance with the invention use iono filters asdescribed in International Patent Publication WO 2007/032947.

Following are Kalman filter state descriptions in accordance with someembodiments:

-   -   Geometry Filter (L1 carrier-phase/L1 GRAPHIC combination)        [x,y,z,t,n_(L1) ¹,n_(L1) ², . . . n_(L1) ^(s)]^(T)    -   Geometry Filter (mixed L1/L2 operation) [x,y,z,t,n_(L1) ¹n_(L2)        ¹,n_(L1) ²n_(L2) ², . . . n_(L1) ^(s)n_(L2) ²]^(T)    -   Geometry Filter (minimum-error L1/L2) [x, y, z, t, n_(ME) ¹,        n_(ME) ², . . . n_(ME) ^(s)]^(T)    -   The iono filter carrier-phase combination is given by:        φ₁=λ_(L1)φ_(L1)−λ_(L2)φ_(L2)−n₁

Iono ambiguity n_(I) and multipath mp_(I) are estimated in the intofilter

Iono Filters (simple) [n_(I), mp_(I)]^(T)

Code filters ambiguity term n_(phase) corresponds to the carrier used inthe code filter.

On short baselines, tightly constrain iono filters, e.g., with receiversare near each other the Δ iono is zero.

Some embodiments in accordance with the invention use an L1/L2 geometryfilter and, upon dropout of the L2 signal from one or more satellites,switches to an L1-only geometry filter.

Code (code-carrier) Filters [n_(phase),mp_(code)]^(T)

Q Filters [n_(phase),mp_(phase)]^(T)

Any plurality of the above described aspects of the invention may becombined to form further aspects and embodiments, with the aim ofproviding additional benefits notably in terms of convergence speed,recovery from jumps and/or system usability.

Any of the above-described apparatuses and their embodiments may beintegrated into a rover, a reference receiver or a network station,and/or the processing methods described can be carried out in aprocessor which is separate from and even remote from the receivers usedto collect the observations (e.g., observation data collected by one ormore receivers can be retrieved from storage for post-processing, orobservations from multiple network reference stations can be transferredto a network processor for near-real-time processing to generate acorrection data stream and/or virtual-reference-station messages whichcan be transmitted to one or more rovers). Therefore, the invention alsorelates to a rover, a reference receiver or a network station includingany one of the above apparatuses.

In one embodiment, the receiver of the apparatus of any one of theabove-described embodiments is separate from the filter and theprocessing element. Post-processing and network processing of theobservations may notably be performed. That is, the constituent elementsof the apparatus for processing of observations does not itself requirea receiver. The receiver may be separate from and even owned/operated bya different entity than the entity which is performing the processing.For post-processing, the observations may be retrieved from a set ofdata which was previously collected and stored, and processed withreference-station data which was previously collected and stored; theprocessing is conducted for example in an office computer long after thedata collection and is thus not real-time. For network processing,multiple reference-station receivers collect observations of the signalsfrom multiple satellites, and this data is supplied to a networkprocessor which may for example generate a correction data stream orwhich may for example generate a “virtual reference station” correctionwhich is supplied to a rover so that the rover can perform differentialprocessing. The data provided to the rover may be ambiguities determinedin the network processor, which the rover may use to speed its positionsolution, or may be in the form of corrections which the rover appliesto improve its position solution. The network is typically operated as aservice to rover operators, while the network operator is typically adifferent entity than the rover operator. This applies to each of theabove-described apparatuses and claims.

Any of the above-described methods and their embodiments may beimplemented by means of a computer program. The computer program may beloaded on an apparatus, a rover, a reference receiver or a networkstation as described above. Therefore, the invention also relates to acomputer program, which, when carried out on an apparatus, a rover, areference receiver or a network station as described above, carries outany one of the above above-described methods and their embodiments.

The invention also relates to a computer-readable medium or acomputer-program product including the above-mentioned computer program.The computer-readable medium or computer-program product may forinstance be a magnetic tape, an optical memory disk, a magnetic disk, amagneto-optical disk, a CD ROM, a DVD, a CD, a flash memory unit or thelike, wherein the computer program is permanently or temporarily stored.The invention also relates to a computer-readable medium (or to acomputer-program product) having computer-executable instructions forcarrying out any one of the methods of the invention.

The invention also relates to a firmware update adapted to be installedon receivers already in the field, i.e. a computer program which isdelivered to the field as a computer program product. This applies toeach of the above-described methods and apparatuses.

GNSS receivers may include an antenna, configured to received thesignals at the frequencies broadcasted by the satellites, processorunits, one or more accurate clocks (such as crystal oscillators), one ormore computer processing units (CPU), one or more memory units (RAM,ROM, flash memory, or the like), and a display for displaying positioninformation to a user.

Where the terms “receiver”, “filter” and “processing element” are usedherein as units of an apparatus, no restriction is made regarding howdistributed the constituent parts of a unit may be. That is, theconstituent parts of a unit may be distributed in different software orhardware components or devices for bringing about the intended function.Furthermore, the units may be gathered together for performing theirfunctions by means of a combined, single unit. For instance, thereceiver, the filter and the processing element may be combined to forma single unit, to perform the combined functionalities of the units.

The above-mentioned units may be implemented using hardware, software, acombination of hardware and software, pre-programmed ASICs(application-specific integrated circuit), etc. A unit may include acomputer processing unit (CPU), a storage unit, input/output (I/O)units, network connection units, etc.

Although the present invention has been described on the basis ofdetailed examples, the detailed examples only serve to provide theskilled person with a better understanding, and are not intended tolimit the scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is muchrather defined by the appended claims.

1. A method of processing a set of GNSS signal data derived from signalsof a first set of satellites having at least three carriers and signalsof a second set of satellites having two carriers, comprising: a.applying to the set of GNSS signal data a geometry filter using ageometry filter combination to obtain an array of geometry-filterambiguity estimates for the geometry filter combination and associatedstatistical information, b. applying to the set of GNSS signal data abank of ionosphere filters each using a two-frequency ionosphericcombination to obtain an array of ionosphere-filter ambiguity estimatesfor the two frequency ionospheric combinations and associatedstatistiaal information, wherein each said two frequency ionosphericcombination comprises a geometry-free two-frequency ionospheric residualcarrier-phase combination of observations of a first frequency andobservations of a second frequency; c. applying to the set of GNSSsignal data a bank of auxiliary ionosphere filters each using anauxiliary ionospheric combination to obtain an array ofauxiliary-ionosphere filter ambiguity estimates for the auxiliaryionospheric combinations and associated statistical information, whereineach said auxiliary ionospheric combination uses carrier-phaseobservations of a third frequency and carrier-phase observations of atleast one of the first frequency and the second frequency, and d.preparing a combined array of ambiguity estimates for all carrier phaseobservations and associated statistical information by combining thearrays of the geometry filter and the ionosphere filters and theauxiliary ionosphere filters.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein thegeometry filter combination comprises one of: (1) a two-frequencygeometry carrier-phase combination, (2) a single-frequency carrier-phaseand code combination, and (3) a single-frequency carrier-phase andGRAPHIC combination.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the two-frequencygeometry carrier-phase combination is a minimum-error combination. 4.The method of claim 1, wherein the two-frequency geometry carrier--phasecombination is a combination of the GPS L1 carrier frequency and the GPSL2 carrier frequency.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein thesingle-frequency carrier-phase and cede combination is a combination ofGPS L1 carrier-phase and GPS L1 code.
 6. The method of claim 1, whereinthe single-frequency of the single-frequency carrier-phase and GRAPHICcombination is the GPS L1 carrier frequency.
 7. The method of claim 1,wherein the bank of ionosphere filters comprises one said ionospherefilter per satellite of the second set of satellites
 8. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the auxiliary ionospheric combination comprises one of:(1) a two frequency geometry free ionospheric carrier-phase combinationof the first frequency and the third frequency, and (2) a threefrequency geometry-free ionospheric carrier-phase combination of thefirst frequency, the second frequency and the third frequency.
 9. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary ionospheric combination is aminimum-error combination.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the bankof auxiliary ionosphere filters comprises one said auxiliary ionospherefilter per satellite of the first set of satellites.
 11. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising applying to the set of GNSS signal data atleast one code filter using a respective geometry-free code-carriercombination to obtain an array of ambiguity estimates for thecode-carrier combinations and associated statistical information. 12.The method of claim 11, wherein preparing a combined array corn risescombining said arrays of said at least one code filter with the arraysof the geometry filter and the ionosphere filters and the auxiliaryionosphere filters to obtain said combined array of ambiguity estimatesfor all carrier phase observations and associated statisticalinformation.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein each geometry-freecode-carrier combination comprises one of: (1) a combination of afirst-frequency code observation with a first and second-frequencycarrier phase combination in which ionospheric bias of the first- andsecond-frequency carrier phase combination is matched to ionosphericbias of the first-frequency code observation; and (2) a two-frequencynarrow-lane code combination with a two-frequency wide-lanecarrier-phase combination.
 14. The method of claim 11, wherein said atleast one code filter comprises one said code filter per satellite ofthe second set of satellites.
 15. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising applying to the set of GNSS signal data derived from thefirst set of satellites at least one bank of additional filters, whereineach additional filter uses a geometry free and ionosphere-freecarrier-phase combination of at least three frequencies to obtain anarray of ambiguity estimates for the geometry free and ionosphere-freecarrier-phase combination and associated statistical information, andwherein preparing a combined array comprises one of: (1) combining saidarrays of said additional filters with the arrays of the geometry filterand the ionosphere filters and the auxiliary ionosphere filters toobtain said combined array of ambiguity estimates for all carrier phaseobservations and associated statistical information; and (2) combiningsaid arrays of said additional filters with the arrays of said at leastone code filter and the geometry filter and the ionosphere filters andthe auxiliary ionosphere filters to obtain said combined array ofambiguity estimates for all carrier phase observations and associatedstatistical information.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein said atleast one bank of additional filters comprises at least one saidadditional filter per satellite of the first set of satellites.
 17. Themethod claim 1, further comprising applying to the set of GNSS signaldata at least one auxiliary code filter using a respective geometry-freeauxiliary code-carrier combination to obtain an array of ambiguityestimates for the auxiliary code-carrier combination and associatedstatistical information, and wherein preparing a combined arraycomprises one of: (1) combining said arrays of said additional filterswith the arrays of the geometry filter and the ionosphere filters andthe auxiliary ionosphere filters to obtain said combined array ofambiguity estimates for all carrier phase observations and associatedstatistical information, (2) combining the arrays of said at least oneauxiliary code filter with the arrays of the geometry filter and theionosphere filters and the auxiliary ionosphere filters and the at leastone code filter to obtain said combined array of ambiguity estimates forall carrier phase observations and associated statistical information,and (3) combining the arrays of said at least one auxiliary code filterwith the arrays of the geometry filter and the ionosphere filters andthe auxiliary ionosphere filters and the at least one code filter andthe additional filters to obtain said combined array of ambiguityestimates for all carrier phase observations and associated statisticalinformation.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein each auxiliarycode-carrier combination comprises one of: (1) a combination of athird-frequency code observation with a first-and third-frequencycarrier phase combination in which ionospheric bias of the first-andthird-frequency carrier phase combination is matched to ionospheric biasof the third-frequency code observation, (2) a combination of a second-and third-frequency code combination with a second- and third-frequencycarrier phase combination in which ionospheric bias of the second- andthird-frequency carrier phase combination is matched to ionospheric biasof the second- and third-frequency code combination, and (3) acombination of a three-frequency narrow-lane code combination with athree-frequency wide-lane carrier phase combination in which ionosphericbias of the three-frequency wide-lane carrier-phase combination ismatched to ionospheric bias of the three-frequency code combination. 19.The method of claim 1, comprising one said auxiliary code filter persatellite of the first set of satellites
 20. The method of claim 1,wherein the satellites are satellites of the Global Positioning System(GPS), wherein the first set of satellites have GPS carriers L1, L2 andL5 and wherein the second set of satellites have GPS carriers L1 and L2.21. (canceled)
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 60. (canceled) 61.Apparatus for processing a set of GNSS signal data derived from signalsof a first set of satellites having at least three carriers and signalsof a second set of satellites having two carriers, comprising at leastone processor with associated memory and a plurality of filterscomprising: a. a geometry filter using a geometry filter combination toProduce from the set of GNSS signal data an array of geometry-filterambiguity estimates for the geometry filter combination and associatedstatistical information, b. a bank of ionosphere filters each using atwo-frequency ionospheric combination to obtain from the set of GNSSsignal data an array of ionosphere-filter ambiguity estimates for thetwo frequency ionospheric combinations and associated statisticalinformation, wherein each said two-frequency ionospheric combinationcomprises a geometry-free two-frequency ionospheric residualcarrier-phase combination of observations of a first frequency andobservations of a second frequency; c. a bank of auxiliary ionospherefilters each using an auxiliary ionospheric combination to obtain fromthe set of GNSS signal data an array of auxiliary-ionosphere-filterambiguity estimates for the auxiliary ionospheric combinations andassociated statistical information, wherein each said auxiliaryionospheric combination uses carrier phase observations of a thirdfrequency and carrier-phase observations of at least one of the firstfrequency and the second frequency, and d. a combiner to prepare acombined array of ambiguity estimates for all carrier phase observationsand associated statistical information by combining the arrays of thegeometry filter and the ionosphere filters and the auxiliary ionospherefilters.
 62. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the geometry filtercombination comprises one of: (1) a two-frequency geometry carrier-phasecombination, (2) a single-frequency carrier-phase and code combination,and (3) a single-frequency carrier-phase and GRAPHIC combination. 63.The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the two-frequency geometrycarrier-phase combination is a minimum-error combination.
 64. Theapparatus of claim 61, wherein the two-frequency geometry carrier-phasecombination is a combination of the GPS L1 carrier frequency and the GPSL2 carrier frequency.
 65. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein thesingle-frequency carrier-phase and code combination is a combination ofGPS L1 carrier-phase and GPS L1 code.
 66. The apparatus of claim 61,wherein the single-frequency of the single-frequency carrier-phase andGRAPHIC combination is the GPS L1 carrier frequency.
 67. The apparatusof claim 61, wherein the bank of ionosphere filters comprises one saidionosphere filter per satellite of the second set of satellites.
 68. Theapparatus of claim 61, wherein the auxiliary ionospheric combinationcomprises one of: (1) a two-frequency geometry-free ionosphericcarrier-phase combination of the first frequency and the thirdfrequency, and (2) a three-frequency geometry-free ionosphericcarrier-phase combination of the first frequency, the second frequencyand the third frequency.
 69. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein theauxiliary ionospheric combination is a minimum-error combination. 70.The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the bank of auxiliary ionospherefilters comprises one said auxiliary ionosphere filter per satellite ofthe first set of satellites.
 71. The apparatus of claim 61, furthercomprising means for applying to the set of GNSS signal data at leastone code filter using a respective geometry-free code-carriercombination to obtain an array of ambiguity estimates for thecode-carrier combinations and associated statistical information. 72.The apparatus of claim 71, wherein the means for preparing a combinedarray comprises means for combining said arrays of said at least onecode filter with the arrays of the geometry filter and the ionospherefilters and the auxiliary ionosphere filters to obtain said combinedarray of ambiguity estimates for all carrier phase observations andassociated statistical information.
 73. The apparatus of claim 61,wherein each geometry-free code-carrier combination comprises one of:(1) a combination of a first-frequency code observation with a first-and second-frequency carrier phase combination in which ionospheric biasof the first- and second-frequency carrier phase combination is matchedto ionospheric bias of the first-frequency code observation; and (2) atwo-frequency narrow-lane code combination with a two-frequencywide-lane carrier-phase combination.
 74. The apparatus of claim 61,wherein said at least one code filter comprises one said code filter persatellite of the second set of satellites.
 75. The apparatus of claim61, further comprising means for applying to the set of GNSS signal dataderived from the first set of satellites at least one bank of additionalfilters, wherein each additional filter uses a geometry-free andionosphere-free carrier-phase combination of at least three frequenciesto obtain an array of ambiguity estimates for the geometry-free andionosphere-free carrier-phase combination and associated statisticalinformation, and wherein the means for preparing a combined arraycomprises one of: (1) means for combining said arrays of said additionalfilters with the arrays of the geometry filter and the ionospherefilters and the auxiliary ionosphere filters to obtain said combinedarray of ambiguity estimates for all carrier phase observations andassociated statistical information; and means for combining said arraysof said additional filters with the arrays of said at least one codefilter and the geometry filter and the ionosphere filters and theauxiliary ionosphere filters to obtain said combined array of ambiguityestimates for all carrier phase observations and associated statisticalinformation.
 76. The apparatus of claim 75, wherein said at least onebank of additional filters comprises at least one said additional filterper satellite of the first set of satellites.
 77. The apparatus of claim61, further comprising means for applying to the set of GNSS signal dataat least one auxiliary code filter using a respective geometry-freeauxiliary code-carrier combination to obtain an array of ambiguityestimates for the auxiliary code-carrier combination and associatedstatistical information, and wherein the means for preparing a combinedarray comprises one of: (1) means for combining said arrays of saidadditional filters with the arrays of the geometry filter and theionosphere filters and the auxiliary ionosphere filters to obtain saidcombined array of ambiguity estimates for all carrier phase observationsand associated statistical information, (2) means for combining thearrays of said at least one auxiliary code filter with the arrays of thegeometry filter and the ionosphere filters and the auxiliary ionospherefilters and the at least one code filter to obtain said combined arrayof ambiguity estimates for all carrier phase observations and associatedstatistical information, and (3) means for combining the arrays of saidat least one auxiliary code filter with the arrays of the geometryfilter and the ionosphere filters and the auxiliary ionosphere filtersand the at least one code filter and the additional filters to obtainsaid combined array of ambiguity estimates for all carrier phaseobservations and associated statistical information.
 78. The apparatusof claim 77, wherein each auxiliary code-carrier combination comprisesone of: (1) a combination of a third-frequency code observation with afirst-and third-frequency carrier phase combination in which ionosphericbias of the first-and third-frequency carrier phase combination ismatched to ionospheric bias of the third-frequency code observation, (2)a combination of a second- and third-frequency code combination with asecond- and third-frequency carrier phase combination in whichionospheric bias of the second- and third-frequency carrier phasecombination is matched to ionospheric bias of the second- andthird-frequency code combination, and (3) a combination of athree-frequency narrow-lane code combination with a three-frequencywide-lace carrier phase combination in which ionospheric bias of thethree-frequency wide-lane carrier-phase combination is matched toionospheric bias of the three-frequency code combination.
 79. Theapparatus of claim 61, comprising one said auxiliary code filter persatellite of the first set of satellites.
 80. The apparatus of claim 61,wherein the satellites are satellites of the Global Positioning System(GPS), wherein the first set of satellites have GPS carriers L1, L2 andL5 and wherein the second set of satellites have GPS carriers L1 and L2.81. (canceled)
 82. A computer-usable medium having a computer readableprogram code embodied therein, said computer readable program codeadapted to be executed to implement the method according to claim 1.